Iron gain revenge on Magpies (From Dorset Echo)

Iron gain revenge on Magpies

5:36pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

BRAINTREE TOWN 2 Dorchester TOWN 0

THE 5-0 thrashing that Dorchester handed out to Braintree in October seemed a lifetime away as the Magpies struggled to come to terms with a team vying for a place in the play-offs.

Braintree, who set off on a 13-game unbeaten run after that 5-0 defeat, took some time to settle but were ultimately worth their victory, forcing the Magpies on to the back foot for most of the second half.

But it could have been so different. With only five minutes gone, Matt Groves skipped in front of Iron centre-back Tom Champion who clipped his heels and sent him crashing to the floor.

Referee Ashvin Degnarain pointed to the spot and Groves, back in the side after Josh Llewellyn’s midweek hamstring injury, lined up the spot-kick.

Keeper Craig Holloway, however, guessed the direction of his kick accurately and dived to his right to pull off an excellent save.

After their let-off the home side pressed and came close on several occasions, most notably when George Purcell stuck out a foot to Robbie Martin’s cross leaving a wrong-footed Regan Coward to watch anxiously as the ball crept slowly past a post.

Coward himself came to the rescue a few minutes later when he got down to a long shot from the prolific Purcell.

Mark Jermyn had Dorchester’s closest effort when he outpaced Champion on the right but his angled shot lacked direction. Steve Devlin mis-kicked when well placed and Groves had a shot deflected for a corner.

Holloway also had to be at his most positive to punch away a dangerous cross from Ryan Hill.

Dorchester had the first chance of the second half when Devlin’s long shot was well policed by Holloway while at the other end Purcell shot over after a patient build-up by the home side.

A minute later Braintree were ahead.

A Martin corner was only half cleared and Joe Bruce pounced to hook a shot into the net from a wide angle.

The Magpies had their best chance of the half shortly afterwards when Ryan Moss rose above the defence to meet Ryan Hill’s cross, but he could not direct his header.

Braintree made the points safe with a second goal in the 72nd minute.

Mr Degnarain was involved in this too as he got himself in the way as the Magpies were attempting to clear the ball.

It ran loose to Purcell who was then brought down by a frustrated Nick Crittenden on the edge of the area.

Purcell slammed in the resulting free-kick through an ineffective black and white wall.

In the 90th minute, substitute Bertie Brayley should have added a thrid for the Essex side.

With the visitors chasing the game, Sean Marks broke free and fed the ball through to Brayley, unmarked in front of goal.

He had time to weigh up his options and pick his spot but instead thumped the ball against the bar.

But it was too late to matter and an aggregate score of 5-2 will be of little comfort to Magpies’ boss Ashley Vickers who ended the match in the stand after displaying his displeasure in the direction of Mr Degnarain once too often.

Braintree: Holloway, Peters, Bruce, Champion, Jones, R Martin (Bruno 87), Mingle, Game, Harris (Brayley 70), Marks, Purcell (Dumas 85).

Dorchester: Coward, Hill, Critchell, Jermyn, Walker, Hill, Crittenden, Coutts (Gleeson 87), Moss, Groves (Byerley 65), Devlin. Subs not used: Bowles, Brice, N Martin.